How to encourage your teen in their Christian faith

Is your teenager living for Christ? Are they luke warm in their Christian faith? Here are some tips to getting the fire started in the heart of your teenager.

Instructions

1. The most important step to helping your teen get on fire for Christ is to represent Christ in your own life. Live by example.

   Pray with your teen and encourage them to pray on their own.
   When you pray with your teen pray about your own shortcomings as well as theirs. Let them know that you struggle with things too.

   Share the things that you are in need of so that your teen can pray for you. This helps them to see who God truly is when their prayers are answered.

2. Let them be themselves!

   Sometimes as Christian parents we are stuck in tradition. We are stuck in traditional mode when it comes to the appearance and dress code of a Christian.

   God tells us to come as we are. The Bible says that God does not look on outward appearance like man does, but God looks upon the heart. Look to see where your child's heart is.

   Once the heart is right the proper clothes will follow. The change needs to come from within before it can change the outward.

   Teenagers need to feel accepted not only by piers and friends but also by God. By encouraging your teen in their walk with the Lord instead of criticizing them your are drawing them closer to God.

3. Don't make them drug babies!

   A drug baby is a child that is drug to church, drug to church activities, drug to church functions etc... Christianity is not all about church. Yes church is an important part of the Christian walk but it is not the primary responsibility of the believer. The primary responsibility of the believer is to build the kingdom of God. Your child will be more effective at kingdom building if you allow them to be themselves.

   Make church a required part of your family routine. But, encourage your teen to attend youth group and Bible study don't force them. They will go more willingly if it's an option instead of a requirement.

   Youth draw in youth and youth evangelize youth. By encouraging your teen to willingly walk with God they will enjoy being a Christian and their light will draw others teens to Christ.

   Instead of telling their friends that they cannot hang out because they have to go to youth group they will be encouraging their friends to come out to youth group with them.

4. Let your teen praise God their way.

   Christian music has changed over the years. But so have Christians.

   Music ministers to the soul. Certain songs have a way of touching our very soul and lead us into a deeper worship with the Lord. Some Christians worship the Lord through hyms, some through gospel etc...

   Whatever type of Christian music that your teen enjoys listening to I encourage you to let them listen to it. You may not agree with it because it does not minister to you or because it is not the Christian music that you are accustomed to but your teen knows exactly how they best connect to God.

   We live in a fast paced world that is ever changing. We also live in a world that caters to the youth. The music industry, clothing industry, movie industry and every other industry in the world revolves around today's youth. This is because their enemy (Satan) wants to seduce them any way that he can. If you do not let your young person be who they want to be in Christ the devil will be right there enticing them to be who they want to be in the world.

   They will find their place in this world. Where they are accepted, where they can be themselves. The Bible says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6) It all starts with you!

Tips & Warnings

• Get to know their friends and encourage your teen to choose friends with the same faith as them.

• Keep your home Christ centered

• Always be there to listen to your teen and answer any questions that they may have regarding their faith.